LSU’S MORRIS CLAIBORNE
ON
JIM THORPE AWARD WATCH LIST
OKLAHOMA
CITY, Okla. – LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne has made another
preseason award watch list as the junior has been named a candidate for
the Jim Thorpe Award, which goes annually to college football’s
most outstanding defensive back.
The Thorpe Award, one of the most coveted awards in college football,
is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2011. The award, established in
1986, is named after history’s greatest all-around athlete, Jim
Thorpe. Thirty-seven players representing nine conferences have been
named to the preseason watch list.
The Thorpe Award watch list is chosen by a screening committee who
compile a list of 30-40 players. The list is not final, and players who
have outstanding seasons are added as the season progresses. The Thorpe
Award Winner is selected from three finalists and will be announced at
The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 8, 2011 on ESPN.
Former teammate Patrick Peterson claimed the honor last season,
becoming LSU’s first Thorpe winner.
Claiborne, a native of Shreveport, is a preseason first-team
All-Southeastern Conference selection by the league’s coaches. He
is one of 10 SEC players who made the list. Claiborne is also on watch
lists for the Bednarik Award and Nagurski Award.
Claiborne led the Tigers and ranked fourth in the SEC with 11 passes
defended as a sophomore. He also picked off a team-high five passes,
which ranked third in the league.
In 19 career games, Claiborne has notched 44 tackles, six pass breakups
and five interceptions.
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